Part 38 (2/2)
Occasionally hevisit to Grey Town to enjoy the restfulness of ”Layton,” but he did not stay long even there After a week or ten days he would suddenly pack his Gladstone bag and return in haste to Melbourne His answer to his mother was always the saer:
”Ifor”
Denis Quirk was busy in his office, writing, revising, correcting proofs, reading a celebrated work for review, criticising illustrations, doing s and several men's work at the one time He had a sub-editor, a very capable journalist, but he had the feeling, like other great men, that no one could do his work but he, and in this he was partly right The telephone rang while he was thus engaged, and he sprang up and seized the receiver Grey Toas speaking
”Yes, Grey Town speaking It is Kathleen O'Connor Can you hear me?”
”Distinctly,” he answered
”Mrs Quirk is seriously ill She wants you”
”I will be with you in seven hours Will she last till then?”
”Dr Marsh thinks so; but please waste no tier answered it with promptitude
He had learned the lesson of haste when the
”Send Mr Gillon toup my flat, and ask my man to pack my valise,” cried Denis
”Tell the motor to call for it,” he added
To the sub-editor he confided the work that still remained to be done
”I will take this withup an important article, ”and read it on the journey I will send it back in thecarried at full speed in a twenty-horse power Fiat car towards Grey Town
”If you delay one moment; if you blow out, or even puncture, I will never eain,” he remarked to the chauffeur
”It's all luck,” the driver answered, indignantly
”I prefer lucky men,” Denis replied ”Now drive like the very deuce”
Nursing his outraged dignity, the chauffeur sent the car at its top road to Grey Town This was his lucky trip; stray nails there were in plenty, also dangerous places, but the Fiat raced through in six hours Denis sat rigidly perusing and correcting the article, deterroaned to hi in life, and I am to close it But, there is work--and the Church, thank God!”
Then he made a further correction, folded the article, and placed it in an envelope This he confided to the chauffeur
”I like you,” he remarked; ”you can be as reckless as I when it is necessary I shall want a driver soon Would you take the post?”
”I prefer to be where I am,” the man answered ”A driver can't be lucky always”
”He only needs to be lucky on occasions like this, when ato say 'Good-bye' to a son”